Gun victim's family in £130k drugs racket

The mother and brother of a man shot dead in the Black Country made more than £130,000 from a drugs racket that was exposed by his murder, a court heard.

Police investigating the killing of 23-year-old Scott Buchanan at the family home in Tipton have since recovered just under £25,000 from cash and cars found at the property.

Yesterday a judge granted a confiscation order allowing the money to be claimed under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Cocaine and amphetamines worth £27,680 were found at the detached four-bedroomed house in Callaghan Drive in November 2008, it emerged at their trial.

Caron Buchanan, aged 47, raised the alarm by running to neighbours, shouting that two men had just burst into her home.

The first officers on the scene found her son's body lying on the lounge floor with neck and chest injuries.

The drugs and £14,250 cash were discovered during a subsequent search of the house. Upstairs was Scott's brother Errol, 23, who claimed to have slept through the doorstep shooting.

Cocaine and £9,500 were found in Scott's bedroom while there was £3,317 and cannabis in the bedroom of his brother.

The bank account of part-time cleaner Mrs Buchanan had more than £66,000 in addition to her £14,000-a-year wages paid into it in less than two years.

She was locked up for 12 months after admitting acquiring criminal property and money laundering. Recently released, after serving just under four months, she profited by £80,820 from the family drug-dealing business, Rhiannon Jones, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court.

"The available amount in her case is £7,325, of which all but £200 is in possession of the police," said Miss Jones.

The mother was given three months to repay the £200 or face a further six months in prison.

Her son, who admitted possessing cocaine and amphetamines with intent to supply, is serving a six-year jail sentence.

Miss Jones said that £17, 625, made up of cash and the sale of cars, was recoverable in his case from the £52,455 which he benefited from dealing.

Judge Michael Challinor allowed eight weeks for the sum, all in possession of the police, to be paid. Errol Buchanan was given a further 12 months prison term, to be served consecutively, in default of payment.